Diabetes ‘Hacks’ from Dr Suess

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you”

Diabetes doesn’t explain everything about me, but it does explain some things (at least my insulin pump and occasional frantic binges on glucose). My experiences growing up with diabetes and living with it now has shaped me, I’m not sure how exactly, but every experience goes into making you who you are and diabetes is a part of me-believe me it’s the part I’d most like to ditch but until that can happen I accept that it is part of what makes “me” me and I accept it.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

There are a whole lot of things that I’d like to see change in the world of diabetes. I’d like to see the cure of course but in the meantime there’s better support, access to insulin for all who need it regardless of wealth, adequate understanding and treatment for diabetic inpatients in hospital, timelier diagnosis. Everyone in the type 1 community needs to stand together and advocate, things won’t get better unless we do something. Doesn’t matter which advocacy area is your passion-just find one and work on it.

“The more things that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Knowledge is power and the more power you have over your diabetes, the less it will restrict you. I’d also add that with diabetes it’s not just about reading you can learn an awful lot by talking with people who also happen to have diabetes. It’s super easy these days on FBook, twitter, etc.

“… remember that life’s a great balancing act. Just never forget to be dextrous and deft and never mix up your right foot with your left.”

Surely, Dr Suess WAS talking diabetes here. Diabetes is the ultimate balancing act and I reckon we’re all damn good at being dextrous and deft-and just remember not to mix up your Lantus with your Humalog and all will be well.

“I’m sorry to say so but really it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.”

Resilience is something we really need to learn in the diabetes world. S*&t happens and we need to learn to deal. So often I see a ridiculous all or nothing approach to life with diabetes. Stop beating yourself up, perfection is impossible-and yes, all the studies have shown that “normalising” blood sugars for type 1s can’t be done with current treatments, so relax and just do your best.

Similarly, complications do not mean it’s the beginning of the end. So often people think they’ve failed and life is over because after 20 years or so, they get some sort of complication. Given long enough, D will take it’s toll somehow or other, it’s not a reason for despair. Most complicatons are treatable and won’t get in the way of your life-many people say it’s the fear and depression associated with complications that mar their life and once they overcome this, the physical problem/s are comparatively minor.

“Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

Don’t beat yourself up about the past, whether it be ignoring diabetes for a long time, a severe hypo or a carb counting debacle. Look forward not back.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”

Great wisdom for diabetes. It’s your diabetes and only you know how you feel about it and what it’s like to live with it. Don’t ever try to live up to other people’s expectations of how you should “be” about D. If you want to swear or scream about it-go for it. If you prefer to hide it, then that’s up to you, if you’re one of those ridiculously chipper people who think diabetes is a blessing (that’s not me in case you hadn’t guessed) then don’t let anybody tell you or try to make you feel otherwise.